Mysuru:  “Girl children should not cut short their studies for any reason,” opined  Makkala Kalyana Samithi Chairperson Kamala, cautioning them against relationships at a very young age.

She was speaking  after inaugurating the International Day of the Girl Child programme jointly organised by Mysuru Child helpline, Organisation for the Development of People (ODP), Rural Literacy and Health Programme (RLHP) and H.D.Kote’s Nisarga Foundation at Government Junior College for Girls, People’s Park in Nazarbad here yesterday.

Pointing out that girl children should not take  decisions in haste in any issue, Kamala cautioned girls against falling into vicious traps. 

Stressing on the need for getting educated, she underlined the importance of having a mature mind and at the same time warding off any distractions.

Noting that inner beauty is more important than  physical appearance, she said that the set targets can be achieved only if we have a sound mind. 

Child helpline district co-ordinator Dhanraj  expressed concern over the growing gap in gender ratio. Maintaining that there were only 933 women for thousand men, he said female foeticide  was a concern.

Claiming that child marriages are still taking place despite the  efforts of authorities to prevent them, he said that Mysuru district stands at the fourteenth position in the list of child marriages.

Highlighting the importance of creating widespread awareness on preventing child marriages, sexual abuse, trafficking and such other crimes against girl child, he said that the United Nations started the International Day of the Girl Child in 2012, considering the importance of  protecting and educating the girl child. 

Devaraja Sub-division ACP Gajendra Prasad, Child Police Cell’s Prasanna Kumar, college Principal Sujatha,Child counsellor Radha, RLHP co-ordinator Shashikumar and others were present.